Tigers softball rolls to start the fall season

Freshman pitcher Tori Finucane pitches against Oklahoma State on March 22, 2014 at University Field in Columbia, Mo. Finucane was given three SEC honors in 2014, including Freshman Player of the Year.

By Tim Leible, KBIA Sports

The Missouri softball team began its fall season with a doubleheader against Crowder and Heartland Community College at University Field on Friday. The Tigers absolutely dominated all areas of the game as they beat Crowder 11-2 and Heartland 15-5.

Freshman Paige Lowary, who won Gatorade’s Softball Player of the Year in Iowa this past year, started the first game for the Tigers. She overpowered Crowder all afternoon, pitching five no-hit innings while striking out 10 batters. She walked two batters in the second inning, but quickly managed her way out of the jam.

Offensively, the Tigers were lead by catcher Sami Fagan, first baseman Kelsea Roth and utility player Natalie Fleming. Fagan and Fleming each had three runs batted in, while Roth lead the team with four. The Tigers had 11 hits to go with their 11 runs, including home runs from Roth and third baseman Alyssa Cousins.

The second game of the doubleheader provided similar results as the first. Sophomore pitcher Tori Finucane allowed one hit and no runs over five innings of work. Her strikeout total, while not as impressive as Lowary’s, was still solid at six.

The Tigers had offensive output by everyone in their second game. Nine Missouri players had at least one hit in the contest. The offense racked up 18 hits and had home runs from third baseman Amanda Sanchez and catcher Kirsten Mack.

The only struggling performer for Missouri was Cheyenne Baxter. Baxter pitched two innings, one in each game, and allowed all seven of the runs the Tigers allowed on the day. All seven runs were earned runs, but not detrimental to Missouri’s chances to win either game.

The Tigers will continue their fall season with another doubleheader against North Central Missouri College and Highland Community College on Friday, Sept. 26 at University Field at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.